Quick Access Phone Number: 1-716-559-3020 1 for Dogs, 2 for Cats, 3 for
Spay/Neuter, 4 for Lost & Found
Welcome
from Save-A-Pet, Niagara County, New York
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Quick Access Phone Number: 1-716-559-3020 1 for Dogs, 2 for Cats, 3 for
Spay/Neuter, 4 for Lost & Found |
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My whole life I have tried to make sense of my world. Educated well as a scientist, gathering data and seeking logical conclusions has peppered my life. I grew into a deep spirituality while practicing this scientific method, experiencing God in the perfection of the non-human world, and deferring constantly to His or Her grace. Then a bullet blasts this serenity, again forcing me to ask deeper questions. Two months ago, I came face to face with a dying cat under my deck. His eye was punctured, huge, red and bulging, his face abscessed, and he was covered with tar or oil. Later, I saw that his tail and rear quarters had burned hair. I called Judy K., my cat shaman, as my distress make me unclear what to do. I thought I should have it euthanized but was unclear how to manage the transition. Judy K. and Jane V. gave me confidence that I would do the right thing. I called Kristin T., my animal communicator, and was astounded when she said that this cat was NOT ready to pass into something better, but he had an incredible strong spirit that wanted some more time. For 5 days the cat, now named Sergio, did not move, eat or drink. He declined into shallow breathing and emaciation. I had placed a carrier near him with food and water. Day 6, I found Sergio in the carrier and some food gone. My friend Susan managed to get me a vet appointment without having to wait for days and I took him for some pain meds and eye ointment...never believing he would live. That was 2 months, and 6 pounds later...Sergio lives on my sun porch hiding most of the time under a table. He eats a lot and has rubbed off most of the tar on his body. He hisses routinely at me in staccato. Today, I saw Sergio on the window ledge, watching a squirrel chase another squirrel. He did not see me and I called out his name “Sergie, Sergio!”. Blind on my side, he squeaked out a pathetic little “meow!” that seemed to startle him...I think it was his first meow past being with his mother. I called out for him again, and more tiny meows came out of this amazing cat. This was sweet music to me, knowing that he is finally NOT automatically frightened of the species that most certainly had tortured and abused him. We will continue to practice meowing, and I hope one day he will find a real home where he can just be a big, handsome cat. Baby steps, miracles and grace. -Deborah Keller Save-A-Pet is in great need of more foster homes for dogs. Since we do not have a shelter, stray and unwanted dogs and cats must be cared for in private homes. Each week many worthy pets must be turned away for lack of a foster home. Some have out stayed their allotted time at a dog control holding facility; some are strays found by private individuals who cannot care for them; others have lost their owners. There are as many sad stories as there are needy dogs. Undoubtedly, caring for a dog requires a lot of work, but the rewards can be huge. Save-A-Pet assumes the cost of food and veterinary care. Prospective foster families can request that they only take in puppies, small dogs, adult dogs, females or males depending on their particular situation. There is a need for all kinds of homes. Foster families also have the right to choose who may adopt “their” dog. They are not obligated to let them go to whomever is willing to pay our small adoption fee. Foster families know the dogs best and can determine the most suitable homes for them. If you would consider providing a loving, temporary home for a puppy or dog, please call Laurel Pierce (716-434-0992) or Susan Williams (716-735-3714) for more information. You could be saving the life of a wonderful pet!
Paws To Reflect Gatsby, a long time resident of the Kirkpatrick cattery, had taken petite newcomer, Hilary, under his tutelage. Gatsby– You’ve got a lot going for you, Hil. You’re in a rescue home and that means our people are partial to cats and very susceptible to suggestions. A gently placed paw, that special vulnerable glance, head butts and purring will go a long way toward getting the behaviors you want. Hilary– Are you sure? I don’t want to annoy them and risk getting slapped, pushed off a lap or put in a cage. Gatsby- Don’t worry. Our people have the philosophy that the cat should be allowed to come to them. She isn’t a problem. He talks big- “I don’t like cats” and “the only good cat is a *blank cat.” I can’t use that word. But His actions belie His works. He always lets Her know if one of us has a weepy eye or sneezes. He also lets us sit on His lap and talks nicely to us. Hilary– What about getting shoved into that small box with bars on the windows and door? I was lifted right off the ground and put into something She called a “van”. It bumped and jiggled so much my tummy was upset. It was all I could do not to potty. Gatsby– Oh, our people call that box a carrier. I have overheard them talking and they really don’t like putting us in one anymore that we like going, but it is a safe way to take us from place to place. The place I don’t like is where People have white coats. We are taken from the box and put on a cold, hard table. Then we are poked and prodded. They look in our mouth, shine a bright light in our eyes, put something in our ears and worse yet, our backside. How rude! Then we try to make up to them by purring and they put something foul smelling by our nose while they put a cold, round disk on our side. But we always go back in the box, back in the van and home. She feels guilty and gives us treats. Hilary– Oh, I love treats but isn’t that a lot to go through? Gatsby– Well, I’ve heard them say it’s to keep us healthy. Most of the time we’re allowed to do as we please. Hilary– Oh, I like laps. They’re warm and soft and I get petted. But Her lap is usually full. We can’t all fit on there. Gatsby– I have a trick if a lap is full. Climb up to the back of the couch and go over the shoulder. I’m so big I’m half on her chest and half on her shoulder. If I start to slip, She automatically puts an arm up to support me. You’re so little Hil, you could just cuddle up by Her neck. Hilary– Sometimes I like to nap on a certain spot on a chair or bed. Am I going to get in trouble? Gatsby– Not at all. We’ve worked hard to train our people. If they see you in a particular spot several times, they’ll put a nice cushy cat bed or nap mat there. Gatsby– We have a whole row of cats beds on the floor by the patio door for The Squirrel Watchers Club. Hilary– What is The Squirrel Watchers Club? Gatsby– He likes to put peanuts on the deck for the squirrels and blue jays. They are great fun to watch. The blue jay will squeak at the squirrels and try to get two peanuts in his beak at once. But you must remember to watch and not to chase. If you get too excited and chase you’ll thump your head on some invisible barrier. Hilary– What about food and water? I may be little but I have a good appetite. Gatsby– Kitchen downstairs, hall upstairs and treats 1-2 times a week. Sometimes She makes us a big kettle of turkey burger, sometimes a chicken or two. But sometimes She gets busy and we have to go on strike. Hilary– What does that mean? Gatsby– It means turning our back on the dry food. She’ll get worried enough to fix us something yummy. Hilary– I don’t know if I can go very long without food. Gatsby- Well you don’t eat that much. Just don’t make it obvious by eating from one bowl and not while she’s looking. You’ll be a great help to us with that one cloudy eye and small frame. I’m not believable as being pitiful– I’m to big and plump. Hilary– The only other thing I can think of right now is that I’m fussy about my toilet. Gatsby– We had Him nicely trained but now He’s on something called chemo and she has to do our boxes. She’s getting better. A few times of cautiously approaching, turning up our noses and putting our backs to the box usually does the trick. If all else fails (and I know this is distasteful), potty outside the box. Hilary- (yawn) Thanks, Gatsby for the information. (yawn, yawn) sounds like we’ve got some pretty good people and well-trained too.(yawn) I’m ready for a nap. I think I’ll go look for a lap or a shoulder. I think I’m going to like it here. -As overheard by Judy Kirkpatrick
As the holidays and cold weather approach, we should be aware that our pets will most likely investigate new items and take an opportunity to check them out. Here is a list of some things that may cause a hazard for your pet.
Holiday plants, such as mistletoe &
holly
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